The energy was electric at E.E. Smith High School this morning as Cumberland County Schools (CCS) hosted its highly anticipated Choice Fair 2025, where families from across the county gathered to explore the district’s variety of dynamic educational opportunities.
Nearly one thousand excited students, parents and guardians filled the hallways—each conversation, display and demonstration showcasing the 'power of choice' and the limitless possibilities within CCS. From STEM and arts academies to world languages, global studies and hands-on career pathways, every program was designed to help students find the perfect fit for their passions and future goals.
Interactive booths and lively demonstrations gave families the chance to meet principals, academy directors and teachers who proudly shared how CCS Choice Programs empower students to learn, grow and thrive.
CCS Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Instructional Programs Dr. Lavette Braswell spoke about the benefits of the program. “Our Choice Program is an opportunity for families to have a personal investment in their child's learning,” said Dr. Braswell. “There's something for everybody.”
Parents and students echoed that excitement throughout the day. “The program provides great opportunities for students all around,” said Alina Grigoryeva, an 8th-grade student from Max Abbott Middle School, exploring the early college options. “It really has a lot of different things to offer.” A CCS parent chimed in about what this event provides. “The event was very well organized,” said CCS Parent Dr. Suriya Jayawardena. “There’s a lot of information and a lot of choices so that we can go back and make our own choices.”
Families seemed to have left the fair equipped with valuable information and a renewed sense of confidence about their educational journey.
The CCS Family and Community Engagement Cruiser was also onsite, giving families early access to apply for their Choice Programs after exploring the options available to their students.
The application period for the 2026–2027 CCS' Choice Programs opens Monday, November 17, 2025, and runs through Friday, January 9, 2026. Families are encouraged to continue exploring programs and make plans to attend upcoming program-specific family nights to find a program based on their students' specific interests and goals.
For additional information about CCS' Choice Programs, including program overviews and videos, visit https://bit.ly/ChoiceProgramsCCS.